A (Very) New Poem

Please handle with care. This poem is in its early stages. I'm pretty much putting this up here now just so my mom and sister can read it. Anyone else, feel free to skip it if you wish.

Praise Song for Everett


This is new for me: this distance.

This is what I know of you
so far: one picture.

This is what I do not know
yet: How you sleep on someone’s
lap; which one of your brother’s
you cry like, or if you’ve come up
with a whole new way to go
about it; how you grip a pinky
extended to you; the color of your
eyes; if you cry when I pick you up.

I have not picked you up.

I know one more thing: a name:
Everett. A cowboy name!
An outlaw name if ever there was one.
I see you on horseback,
Everett. I see you learning
the names of wild country flowers.

I can’t yet see myself there with you
because the buildings are huge
where I am. And, Everett, there
are so many of them.

Maybe I know one more thing:
When you finally decided to come
into the world, you did it fast.
I have always been more thought
than action; early on you appear
to be the other way around.
What do you think, though, Everett,

now that you are here?
Take your time with this one,
it might take some getting used to.

Or, fuck it, burn your way through it,
fast as you came; take it in one
bite. Don’t think, just ride.
You can tell me about it when
you finally fall asleep in my lap.

For now, let me tell you what I think:
I am shocked that the world keeps
offering things that make me believe in it.

National Poetry Month

In honor of National Poetry Month I'm going to try and post a bunch of poetry stuff for your reading pleasure. The first things come from two friends of mine: First an essay from Mary Tinucci about the power of poetry (Mary does amazing work with the youth of St. Paul through The Lab), and second, some poems from Erica Wright (Who we also published at InDigest).

Enjoy!

April: National Poetry Month

Is it trite to say that poetry has saved my life? Or maybe, it is completely grandiose. Either way, it is true for me. It was 12 years ago, at the age of 30, when I first dipped my toe into the waters of poetry. Immediately, my heart was soothed, my emotional internal world felt at ease, understood.


Among the first poets I learned of were Mary Oliver and Sekou Sundiata. Markedly different poets, markedly different lives. I have had the great pleasure of seeing and hearing both Sekou Sundiata and Mary Oliver speak and read their poetry live, in person. Before he died, I saw Sekou’s performance called “Blessing The Boats”. It was an amazing solo performance that recounted his experience with the life-threatening illness of kidney failure and recovery. Sekou affirmed for me the value of using poetry as self-reflection, healing, growth.


Mary Oliver, on the other hand, is most known for her ability to observe the natural world, outside of herself. I had the great pleasure of seeing her speak/read at the State Theater last Sunday night. Such an amazing poet, person. She and her poetry, honor and offer witness to all life in the natural landscapes. She notices and writes beautifully about trees, dogs, flowers, birds, insects and moose, all creatures, large and small, capturing their immense ability to teach us, if we will only slow down enough to truly see.


Although, of course, I never met them, these two ‘first poets’, were mentors to me, as were their poems. This “mentorship” through life is what we hope to offer through The Lab. April is National Poetry Month. I encourage you to reach for poetry this month, for inspiration, for solace, for your own private mentor. Consider, too, sharing a poem you love with someone you care about. It might just save a life. ~ In poetry & Peace. Mary T.




Erica at From the Fishouse

Poetry at Guernica

Here's some poetry brought to you by guernicamag.com. While you're there, check out the blog section.